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New Mexico: ‘Land of disenchantment'

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Two Democrats had already entered the race before Pearce’s announcement.
AP Photo

New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce’s decision to run for the seat of retiring Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) opens up yet another House seat that both parties plan on aggressively contesting.

Pearce is the 13th House Republican not to run for reelection this cycle. Ten have announced their retirement, while three have opted to run for higher office.

The district, spanning rural southern New Mexico, is solidly Republican. It gave President Bush 57 percent of the vote in 2004.

“This is a Republican stronghold. There are no two ways about it,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. “New Mexico will prove to be the Land of Disenchantment for Democrats in 2008.”

But Democrats believe it is winnable, particularly given the district’s sizable Hispanic population (47 percent). Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) picked up a nearby West Texas House seat last year, in part because voters viewed the GOP’s tough-on-immigration stance as too hard-line.

Two Democrats had already entered the race before Pearce’s announcement. Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley raised $66,000 in the third quarter and was viewed as an early front-runner.

But he will now be facing a more crowded primary field. Democratic operatives think a candidacy from state Rep. Joe Cervantes has possibilities. And former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague, who owns an oil well repair business, entered the race yesterday.

Teague’s ties to oil and gas interests — he also is on the board of directors for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association — may give him strong fundraising connections.

“If it’s not one thing, it’s another for national Republicans, who are already scrambling to plug all the holes in their sinking ship,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Doug Thornell.